Beyond Words: The Silent Language of Faiz’s Love

The poem begins with an existential question:

> "میں کیا لکھوں کہ جو میرا تمہارا رشتہ ہے
وہ عاشقی کی زباں میں کہیں بھی درج نہیں"
“What can I write of this connection that binds us—
It finds no place in the language of lovers.”



Right from the start, the speaker admits the inadequacy of language to define or capture the unique nature of their relationship. This is a powerful statement in itself, especially coming from a poet. Faiz, a master of words, acknowledges that even poetic language, especially that of traditional romantic expression ("عاشقی کی زباں"), is insufficient. This isn’t just a complaint about language; it’s a philosophical reflection about the limitations of human expression when it comes to the most intimate and profound experiences.

Transcending Traditional Love

In classical Urdu poetry, two main themes dominate: وصال (union) and فراق (separation). The poet notes:

> "لکھا گیا ہے بہت لطف وصل و درد فراق
مگر یہ کیفیت اپنی رقم نہیں ہے کہیں"
“Much has been written of the joy of union and the pain of parting,
Yet this state of ours is inscribed nowhere.”



Faiz shows deep awareness of the literary tradition he belongs to. But he also critiques it. Union and separation—joy and pain—are the standard binaries of love poetry. Yet, he points to a third state: a liminal emotional experience that lies beyond both. It is neither pure union nor pure separation. It is something more complex, nuanced, and deeply personal.

He uses the word "کیفیت" — a word rich in Sufi and poetic tradition, meaning "state" or "condition," often implying an emotional or spiritual state that defies rational definition. Faiz is attempting to describe a personal and internal world that has no precedent in poetic literature. In doing so, he elevates the experience to something spiritual, ineffable, and sacred.

A Love Interwoven with Time

The poet goes on:

> "یہ اپنا عشق ہم آغوش جس میں ہجر و وصال
یہ اپنا درد کہ ہے کب سے ہم دم مہ و سال"
“This love of ours, in which union and parting lie intertwined;
This pain of ours, that has long been a companion of months and years.”



Faiz offers a subtle but powerful transformation of love into a constant, an enduring truth rather than a fleeting emotion. The relationship has outgrown temporary moments of joy or sadness. It has become a perpetual presence, marked not by milestones but by its uninterrupted existence. Love and pain, union and separation—these are no longer opposites but have become indistinguishable elements of the same experience.

The love described here is mature, seasoned, and spiritual. It doesn’t require dramatics or outward expression—it lives within the rhythms of daily life ("ہم دم مہ و سال" — companion through months and years). There’s no need for grand gestures; the love exists as a quiet permanence.

A Sacred, Hidden Love

> "اس عشق خاص کو ہر ایک سے چھپائے ہوئے
'گزر گیا ہے زمانہ گلے لگائے ہوئے'"
“This most exquisite passion we have hidden from all,
An age has passed, held in our embrace.”



The final lines are deeply melancholic and tender. Faiz uses “عشق خاص” — meaning “a special or exclusive kind of love”. This is not love for public display or poetic boasting. It is private, sacred, and secret. The decision to keep it hidden is not out of shame, but reverence. Sometimes the most powerful emotions are those we dare not speak of, even to ourselves.

The final verse is quietly devastating:
"گزر گیا ہے زمانہ گلے لگائے ہوئے"
"An era has passed, held in our embrace."

Time slips away while they remain locked in this silent, sacred love. There is a sense of longing here, yes—but it’s a longing that has settled into acceptance. It’s neither celebration nor mourning; it is a peaceful grief, a surrender to the beauty of what was and what still lingers.

Themes and Literary Significance

1. Ineffability of Love: Faiz challenges the expressive power of language itself. This is a philosophical move, reflecting that deep emotional truth cannot be fully captured in verse.


2. Transcending Tradition: The poem pays homage to the classic tropes of Urdu poetry but breaks away from them, creating a new poetic space for unclassifiable emotion.


3. Time and Memory: The relationship outlasts moments and becomes part of the self’s temporal experience—this is where romance becomes existential.


4. Secrecy and Sacredness: The hidden nature of the love described suggests something that transcends societal norms and expectations—perhaps forbidden, or perhaps simply too profound to share.


5. Spiritual Undertones: The poem’s structure and vocabulary are reminiscent of Sufi concepts of divine love, where love is not about possession or longing alone, but about surrender and transcendence.



Conclusion: The Quiet Grandeur of Intimate Emotion

Faiz’s poem isn’t about love in the ordinary sense. It’s about a state of being, a spiritual and emotional truth that the poet lives with. By refusing to categorize this love, Faiz elevates it. He shows us that some bonds don’t need names, some feelings can’t be captured in couplets, and some stories are not for the world to hear—because they live in silence, endurance, and the passing of time.

The poem leaves us with a haunting sense of time lost in closeness, love sustained not by declarations but by presence. And in doing so, Faiz proves that sometimes the most powerful poetry lies in what cannot be said.